illustration； which he was doing himself； wasn’t

contrary to the religion or the sacred book…This was exactly the pretext

sought　by　the　Erzurumis；　who　were　desperate　to　find　an　aspect　contrary　to　the

religion。 Elegant Effendi and your Enishte were a perfect match for each

other。”

“And　you’re　the　one　who　killed　them　both；　isn’t　that　so？”　said　Black。

I　thought　for　a　moment　that　he　would　hit　me；　and　in　that　instant；　I　also

knew　beautiful　Shekure’s　new　husband　really　had　nothing　to　plain　about

in the murder of his Enishte。 He wouldn’t strike me； and even if he did； it

made　no　difference　to　me　any　longer。

“In　actuality；　as　much　as　Our　Sultan　wanted　to　have　a　book　prepared　under

the influence of the Frankish artists；” I continued stubbornly； “your Enishte

wanted　to　prepare　a　provocative　book　whose　taint　of　illicitness　would　feed　his

own　pride。　He　felt　a　slavish　awe　toward　the　pictures　of　the　Frankish　masters

he’d　seen　during　his　travels；　and　he’d　fallen　pletely　for　the　artistry　that　he

regaled us about for days on end—you too must have heard that nonsense

about　perspective　and　portraiture。　If　you　ask　me；　there　was　nothing　damaging

or sacrilegious in the book we were preparing…Since he was well aware of

this；　he　pretended　that　he　was　preparing　a　forbidden　book　and　this　gave　him

425

great satisfaction…Being involved in such a dangerous venture with the

Sultan’s　personal　permission　was　as　important　to　him　as　the　pictures　of　the

Frankish　masters。　True；　if　we’d　made　a　painting　with　the　intent　of　exhibiting

it； that would’ve been sacri